Australia is on the map but not on the minds of South-East Asia
Greater economic engagement with Southeast Asia is needed not only for Australia’s sustained prosperity but also for its political clout as a bona fide Asian power.
Even in this age of distance and time-defying technologies, geography is fate in the life of nations, and the first order of statecraft is to strengthen peace and prosperity with your closest neighbours.
The legendary Australian diplomat Richard Woolcott was keenly aware of this when in 1967 he started orienting the country’s foreign policy towards Asia. Six decades later, the mission he set out to achieve is still a work in progress.
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Kyung-wha Kang is the President and CEO of Asia Society and served as South Korean Foreign Minister from 2017 to 2021.
